Razor



m June 30, 1942. .1. R. REYBURN Erm. 2,288,302

RAZOR Filed March 29, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nr PP. www www NRf. WHW.www. HM @W V..

ATTORNEY June 30, 1942.

J. R. REYBURN ETAL 2,288,302

RAZOR Filed MarCh 29, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY shape in plan view.

Patented June 30, 1942 RAZOR John R. Reyburn, Fairfield, and William H.Ebelhare, Nichols, Conn.,

assignors to Magazine Repeating Razor Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application March 29, 1941, Serial No. 385,904

7 Claims.

The invention relates to razors of the so-called "detachable magazineinjector type, the essential characteristics of which comprise abladeretaining channel which is enlarged by the insertion oi. the ringerof a blade magazine injector` to permit of the injection into thechannel of a blade, whereupon the blade aligning nger is withdrawnpermitting the parts through spring action to come together and drivethe blade edge against stops properly placed to effect uniform alignmentof the blade edge with the guard.

One of the objects of the invention is a razor construction of thistype, whereby substantially uniform regulated pressure of the blade edgewith the stops can be secured.

Another object is a razor construction of the lil type described,whereby upon insertion ci the magazine linger to release the blade, thelatter is dragged from the stops, thus permitting a blade in the razorhead to be ejected therefrom with the edge free from contact with thestops.

Another object is a razor head and blade construction combining the twoadvantages that have just been stated.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a type of razor and detachable magazinetherefor in which the invention may be incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a blade that may be used in thedescribed embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the razor showing the parts in one oftheir positions;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in another oftheir operative positions;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modied form of blade thatmay be used;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of still another modified form of blade;

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of razor.

Referring to the drawings more in detail:

One form of blade suitable for use in the razor will rst be described.

As shown in Fig. 2, the blade is of the single cutting edge type, thecutting edge being indicated by the numeral I0, and is rectangular in Itdiffers however from conventional blades of this type in that it isprovided with protuberances in the form of nubs II and I2 projectingfromone surface. Preferably the nubs exhibit the contour of a convexspherical arc for reasons which will presently appear. Two of these nubsare suiiicient to insure their functioning as will be presentlydescribed, but there may be more if desired, and infact the nubs,whatever their number, may be replaced by a single protuberance in theform of a continuous ridge 12a of a cross-section conforming, as shownin Fig. 6, to the Vertical median section of the nubs. A single nublocated about half-way between the ends of the blade and midway betweenthe edge and heel of the blade may be used if desired though it does notfunction as well as do two or more nubs or a ridge. The nubs, and forthat matter the ridges, may of course be struck up from the oppositeside of the blade by conventional stamping operations carried out priorto heat-treating. As an inch dent to lthe stamping operation as usuallyperformed, the reverse side of the blade is provided with spherical areindentations one of which im shown at i221, whereby a number of bladescan be stacked in nesting relation as shown at i2c (Fig. l). This servesa useful purpose not only when the blades are packaged in a stach butalso when the stack is used for loading a blade magaaine I 2d as shownin Fig. 1. The same applies to the modication employinga ridge in placeci nubs.

The razor head comprises the usual handle (not shown) from which extendsa shank I3 on which the parts composing the shaving head are mounted.These parts comprise the blade-supporting platform I4 terminating in theguard I5, the blade-supporting platform consisting as shown of aright-angled extension oi the platform support I 6. At the ends of theguard are located stops I l', end portions of the cutting edge of theblade abut when the blade is properly positioned, and they thus serveuniformly to locate the cutting. edge of the blade with respect to theguard regardless of variations in the width of the blade or variationsin the dimensions of the component parts of the razor.

Also included in the parts referred to is the back plate I8 of resilientsheet metal attached to the shank by the screw or rivet I9 andterminating in an approximately right-angled bend, thus forming theclamping plate 20. The underside of the edge portion of the clampingplate is formed to provide a recess-e. g., the longitudinal groove 2| ofa curvature in cross-section which may be substantially that of thenubs, although preferably somewhat greater. The resiliency of the backplate is exerted in a direction to carry the blade clamping plate in thedirection of the stops I1 and also the resiliency of the blade clampingplate is downward so that a blade l0catvIl against which the extremevsiliency being, of

2 ed between it and the blade supporting plate will be clamped `firmlyin position.

In Fig. 3 is shown the aligning nnger 22 of a blade magazine injectorinserted in the aligning slot 22a between the blade platform support I8and the back plate I8. This causes the back plate I8 to be forcedrearwardly and consequently causes the grooved edge portion 2l of theblade clamping plate to be retracted. Also by reason of the fact thatthe back plate I8 virtually pivots on the screw or rivet I9 the pressureof the blade clamping plate on the nubs II and I2 is at the same timeslightly relieved, the proportions of the parts and their degree ofrecourse, adjusted to that end.

While the blade magazine finger 22 is in the aligning slot 22a, as shownin Fig. 3, a blade may be inserted in the blade channel between theblade clamping plate and the blade supporting platform preferably,although not necessarily, by the usual operation of the injector. 'Iheblade, as it is being injected, is guided by cooperation between itsprotuberance or protuberances, as the case may be, and the groove in theblade clamping plate, so that it travels true without contact of thecutting edge with the stops I1. When the blade magazine aligning'lnger22 is withdrawn after a blade has been injected, the parts have therelationship shown in Fig. 4, wherein the extreme ends of the blade edgeare in abutment with the stops I1, having been driven to that positionby the resilient action of the back plate I8, which comes into operationon withdrawal of the finger. At the same time the clamping pressure onthe blade is increased because of the pivotal mounting of the back plateI8. Consequently, the blade is held firmly in xed position and is secureagainst vibration in shaving.

The first advantage of the spherical arc contour of the nubs and thecurvature of the channel in the end region of the blade clamping plateis that a substantially uniform adjusted pressure of the blade edgeagainst the stops can thereby be effected and maintained. To amplify,the stops for razors of this character, and for that matter the razorsthemselves, are usually made of metal comparativelysoft in comparisonwith the material of the blades, and the pressure of the blade edgeagainst the stops is with repeated use, if not carefully regulated-byaccuracy of manufacture, very likely to cut off the stops or at leastcut into them deeply enough to destroy the predetermined alignment ofthe blade edge with the guard-e. g., if the forward motion of the bladeclamping plate that takes placev when the magazine finger is removedfrom the aligning slot is excessive and is exerting a positive pressureagainst the blade, the pressure of the blade edge on the stops will .becorrespondinglygexcessive. However, with the nub or ridge and the grooveshaped as has been described, any excessive motion or tendency to motionon the part of the blade clamping plate is taken up by the riding up ofthe blade clamping plate on the nutse. g., in the relationship shown inFig. 4, the line- 23 indicates the point of tangency of the nubwith thesurface of the groove. If the normal throw of the clamping plate weregreater, this line of tangency would travel slightly further down towardthe base of the nub after the blade edge abutted the stops without,however, resulting in any material increase in the pressure of the bladeedge against the stops. The forward pressure on the nubs,

however, changes less and less as the cross-section curvature of thegroove 2l is increased with respect to the curvature of the nubs.

On retraction of the blade clamping plate, brought about by insertingthe blade magazine finger in the aligning slot, the blade is draggedback to the position-e. g., shown in Fig. 3. This, too, is a greatadvantage in preserving the stops from cutting. To explain, in magazineinjector razors already known, the insertion of the magazine flngerinthe aligning slot usually draws back the blade-clamping plate butwithout disturbing the blade in the blade channel.

The fact is that the blade remains in contact with the stops with aconsiderable degree of firmness owing to the fact that the bladeclamping plate lfrequently merely slides over it, although bearingheavily enough upon it to preserve a large part of the pressure againstthe stops which has been created as a result of the operation ofinjecting it into the razor and releasing the blade-clamping plate bywithdrawal of the magazinenger 22.

I n Fig. 5 is shown a modification wherein the blade nubs 24 are of theform of very low truncated cone tapering away from the surface of `theblade. Indentations corresponding to the nubs are found in the reverseside of the blade. Play between the clamping blade and the nub ispreserved, however, by retaining the curved cross-section of the channelas inthe previous figures.

Now that the functional relationship between the groove and the clampingplate and the nubs or ridge has been explained, it will be clear thatits object is to take care of the situation wherein the blade edge abutsthe stops before the back plate I8 has come in contact with the extendedpart 23a and platform support I6. When that happens, the clamping platecan of course travel no further, but, if the blade edge abuts the stopswhen there is still clearance between the back plate I8 and'extendedportionA 23a, the full force exerted by the back plate is exertedagainst the nubs and thru them against the stops, resulting in thecutting action before referred to. The intensity of pressure thuscreated is diiiicult to regulate in commercial production with even afair degree of uniformity. In some cases it will be light to which thereis no objection, but, on the contrary, in other cases it will beexcessively heavy. An important factor in causing this trouble arisesout of the necessary shortness of the back plate which is essentially aspring which, by reason of being short, changes ,its tension veryrapidly through a small range of ilexure. Another contributing cause isdiiiculty in locating the nubs uniformly with respect to the edge of theblade. With a given razor head a variation in the position of the nubswith respect to the blade edge will make a great difference in thepressure of the blade on the stops. Still another contributing factor isthe difliculty of keeping the dimension between the stops and the edgeof the supporting plate to a close tolwhether or not as perfectly as therounded shape.

Another form that has not been mentioned is one of upwardly taperingfull cone shape, the groove in the clamping plate being shaped tocorrespond, or at least shaped to function in the desired way. The sameis true when the blade is provided with a continuous ridge instead of aplurality of nubs. The ridge may be rounded or V-shaped in cross-sectionand the groove in the clamping plate may also be either rounded orV-shaped, the V-shape in the clamping plate co-operating with a curved4nub or ridge; or vice versa, a rounded groove in the clamping plateco-operating with rounded nubs or a V-shaped ridge on the blade.

The particular shape of the protuberance is not important in retractingtheblade from the stops. For that purpose a sliding or riding up actionis not necessary. In point of fact, insofar as withdrawing the bladefrom the stops is concerned, the engagement may be positive.

One factor that determines the extent to which uniformity of pressure ofblade edges on the stops can be attained is the slope of the surface ofthe protuberance. While, as above stated, the engagement between theclamping plate and the protuberance may or may not be positive onretraction of the clamping plate from the stops, it is of courseessential that, on the advance movement of the clamping plate, theengagement be non-positive. The more moderate the slope, the lesspositive is the resistance offered by the protuberance to the overthrowof the blade clamping plate. The slope should not however be s slightthat the clamping plate rides over the protuberance so easily that itfails to drive the blade edge against the stops. In other words, it ispreferable that the slope be made as little as possible provided theengagement of the blade clamping plate with the protuberance is firmenough to move the blade toward the stops until the blade edge abutsthem. The same, of course, applies to the slope of the groove in theclamping plate.

If, for any reason, it be desired to dispense with the function wherebythe blade is retracted from the stops upon insertion of the magazinefinger in the aligning slot, the clamping plate may take the form shownin Fig. 7, wherein the curve of the groove stops at its deepest portion,as indicated at 25, and the clamping plate then extends substantiallyparallel with the plane of the blade, as shown at a. In thisconstruction, the advance of the clamping plate toward the stops carriesthe blade with it and any excess motion of the clamping plate after theblade edge abuts the slope is taken care of as in the previousconstructions. On the other hand, retraction of the clamping plate fromthe stops does not withdraw the blade from the stops. Obviously thisform does not lend itself to accurate guidance of the blade duringinsertion as do the previous forms.

We have described above certain embodiments of our invention and apreferred process with certain modifications thereof, but we wish it tobe understood that these are illustrative and not limitative of ourinvention and that We reserve the right to make various changes in form,construction and arrangement of parts, and also to make various changesin process of manufacture falling within the spirit and scope of ourinvention, as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

stops associated with 1. A razor comprising a blade platform, bladestops associated with the platform, a blade clamping plate mounted formotion toward and f rom the stops and pressing resiliently toward theblade platform, said clamping plate being provided with a recess on theside facing the blade platform, a blade provided with a protuberanceprojecting from one face thereof clamped between the clamping plate andthe blade platform, the protuberance and the recess being in engagementwith each other.

2. A razor comprising a blade platform, blade the platform, a bladeclamping plate mounted for motion toward and from the stops and pressingresiliently toward the blade platform, said clamping plate beingprovided with a recess on the side facing the blade platform, a bladeprovided with a protuberance projecting from one face thereof clampedbetween the clamping plate and the blade platform, the protuberance andthe recess being in non-positive engagement .with each other.

3. A razor, comprising a blade platform terminating in a guard, theguard being provided at each end with a stop, the stops being adapted toserve as abutments for the cutting edge of a blade, a resilient platefor clamping the blade against the blade platform, said plate beingmovable toward and away from the guard, a blade provided with aprotuberance projecting from one of its surfaces, the clamping platebeing provided with a longitudinal groove in its blade contacting face,the said groove and the protuberance being adapted to effect nonpositivecoengagement between the clamping plate and the blade.

4. A razor comprising a blade platform terminating in a guard providedat each end with a stop, the stops being adapted to serve as abutmentsfor the cutting edge of a blade, a blade clamping plate adapted toco-operate with the blade platform for clamping a blade between it andsaid platform, said plate being movable toward andf'away from saidstops, a blade provided with a protuberance projecting from one of itssurfaces and sloping back from the stops, the clamping plate beingprovided with a groove into which said protuberance may be received, andthe slope being steep enough so that forward movement of the clampingplate when in engagement with the blade will drive the blade edgeagainst the stops, but moderate enough so that the blade clamp willslide over the protuberance when the forward movement of the blade isarrested by abutment with the stops.

5. A razor comprising a blade platform terminating in a guard providedat each end with a stop, the stops being adapted to serve as abutmentsfor the cutting edge ofa blade, a blade clamping plate adapted toco-operate with the blade platform for clamping a blade between it andthe said platform, said plate being movable toward and away from thestops, a blade provided With a plurality of protuberances equi-distantfrom the edge thereof projecting from one of its surfaces and slopingback from the stops, the clamping plate being provided with a groove bywhich said protuberances may be engaged, and the slope being steepmovement of the clamping plate when in engagement with the blade willdrive the blade edge against the stops but moderate enough so that theblade clamp will slide over the protuberenough so that forward` towardand away from ances when the forward movement of the blade is arrested'by abutment with the stops.

6. A razor comprising a blade platform termi-l nating in a guardprovided at each end with a v stop, the stops being adapted to serve asabutments for the cutting edge of the blade, a blade clamping plateadapted to co-operate with the blade platform for clamping a bladebetween it and the said platform, said plate being movable the stops andexerting a resilient pressure in the direction of the blade platform, ablade provided with a plurality of rounded nubs equi-distant from theedge thereof projectingA from one of its surfaces and sloping back fromthe stops, the clamping plate being provided with a grooveby which saidnubs may be engaged, and the slope of the nubs being such that forwardmovement of the clamping plate when in engagement with the blade willdrive the blade edge against the stops and when the blade is arrested byabutment with the stops will ride over the nubs to the limit of theforward motion of the blade clamping plate.

'7.'A razor comprising a blade .platform terminating in a guard providedwith blade stops. a blade clamping plate mounted to co-operate withthevblade platform for between it and the platform. saidplate beingmovable toward and away from the stops and exerting a resilient pressurein the direction of the blade platform and also in the direction of thestops. a blade provided with a plurality of nubs equi-distant from oneof the edges thereof projecting from its surface and sloping back fromthe stops, the clamping plate being provided with a groove by which saidnubs may be engaged, and the slope of the nubs being such that forwardmovement of the clamping plate when in engagement with the blade willdrive the blade edge against the stops and when the blade is arrested byabutment with the stops will ride over the nubs to the limit of theforward mo- 20 tion of the blade clamping plate.

JOHN R. REYBURN. WILLIAM H. EBELHARE.

clamping a blade

